Guide ring for I.S. glass forming machine

Abstract

A self-lubricating ring assembly (10) for use in forming a finish portion (F) of a hollow formable glass parison (P), the neck ring assembly (10) having an opposed pair of part cylindrical metallic neck ring sections (22a, 22b) that can be opened and closed with respect to one another. The opening and closing of the neck ring sections is guided by a guide ring assembly (24) that is made up of a larger diameter flange member (26) and a smaller diameter hub member (28) that is coaxially and removably joined to the flange member (26). A peripheral portion of the flange member (26) is slidably received in a slot that is defined by opposed slot portions (30, 30b) of the neck ring sections (22a, 22b). The flange member (26) of the guide ring assembly (24) is formed of graphite, to eliminate the need for external lubrication of the neck ring assembly (10), and the hub member (28) is formed of a hardened metal alloy.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A self-lubricating neck ring assembly for a glass forming machine comprising: a plurality of neck ring sections, each of said neck ring sections having an opposed pair of ends, said neck ring sections being capable of being positioned end to end to form a substantially continuous mold to from a finish portion of a hollow glass article, said neck ring sections being separable from one another to permit the hollow glass article to be withdrawn therefrom, each of said sections having a slot therein, said slots of said plurality of sections forming a substantially continuous annular slot when said neck ring sections are positioned in end to end alignment; and   a guide ring assembly, said guide ring assembly comprising a larger diameter annular flange member and a smaller diameter annular hub member, said hub member extending coaxially from said flange member and being removably joined to said flange member, said flange member being formed of graphite and being slidably received in said slots of said neck ring sections to guide said neck ring sections as they open and close with respect to one another.   
     
     
       2. A neck ring assembly according to claim 1 wherein said annular hub member is formed from a hardened metal alloy. 
     
     
       3. A neck ring assembly according to claim 2 wherein said hub member has an internal diameter and wherein said flange member has an internal diameter, the internal diameter of the hub member being smaller than the internal diameter of the flange member, whereby any contact between a plunger element of the glass forming machine with which such neck ring assembly is used will be between the plunger element and the hub member. 
     
     
       4. A neck ring assembly according to claim 1 wherein each of said neck ring sections is formed of a heat resistant metal with good thermal conductivity. 
     
     
       5. A neck ring assembly according to claim 4 wherein said heat resistant metal is an aluminum bronze alloy. 
     
     
       6. A guide ring assembly for use in a neck ring assembly for a glass forming machine, said guide ring assembly not requiring lubrication from an external source and comprising: an annular flange member, said annular flange member being adapted to be slidably received in an annular slot defined by a plurality of aligned slots in a plurality of neck ring sections, the neck ring sections being capable of opening and closing with respect to one another, said flange member being formed of graphite; and   an annular hub member, said hub member having an outside diameter that is smaller than an outside diameter of said flange member, said annular hub member extending coaxially from said annular flange member, said flange member being removably joined to said hub member.   
     
     
       7. A guide ring assembly according to claim 6 wherein said annular hub member is formed from a hardened metal alloy. 
     
     
       8. A guide ring assembly according to claim 7 wherein said hub member has an internal diameter and wherein said flange member has an internal diameter, the internal diameter of the hub member being smaller than the internal diameter of the flange member, whereby any contact between a plunger element of the glass forming machine with which such guide ring assembly is used will be between the plunger element and the hub member.